SB: The Number Project

Huskies Study Past To Build Strong Future // By Mason Kelly

By Washington Huskies

March 18^th, 2019

When Heather Tarr took the helm of Washington’s softball team in 2005, the program was a little more than 10 years old. The Huskies’ traditions and history were still taking shape.

As Tarr has evolved as a coach, Washington has expanded its foundation. But during that first season, Tarr picked up a tradition that has been woven into the fabric of the program. At the softball coach’s convention that year, she found an idea that continues to deepen the bond between the program’s past and present.

Tarr first heard the idea from Michigan’s Carol Hutchins when the Wolverines were the reigning national champions. For the Huskies, it has become the program’s Number Project.

“It’s really important in my philosophy – or in any sort of leadership philosophy – that you know what was there before you got there out of respect for the land that was there or the people that were there,” Tarr said. “I take a lot of pride in that personally, but it definitely comes through in that activity for our team.”

The idea is simple: Players can choose their numbers at Washington, but there is a caveat. Each athlete must understand the history behind that number and then contact at least one of the alums who previously wore the number.

“They know they’re not the only one to wear it,” Tarr said. “When they say, ‘Oh, I want to wear this number.’ Well, it’s not really your number. You’re renting it. You get to pay rent on that jersey and, when you’re done, you know somebody else is investing their time and energy into researching who wore it before them.”

This year, freshman Madison Huskey submitted a project that caught Tarr’s attention. Huskey initially wanted to wear No. 3, but after Taylor Van Zee graduated last season, Tarr decided to “put three on ice for a little bit.”

Huskey instead selected No. 9.

“There are amazing people who have worn nine,” Tarr said.

Two of those alums are Allison Mick and Becky Newbry. Huskey set up a breakfast with Newbry.

“Her project …” Tarr paused. When she continued, she didn’t go into details, but said she was so impressed, she called her coach at Washington, Teresa Wilson. “Look at what people are doing in honor of the program you started and the players you recruited. Then I, of course, shared it with Becky and Allison Mick.

“It’s just a really neat thing that bridges the gap between the alumni and players.”

When Amirah Milloy joined the Huskies, she also asked for No. 9 so she could wear the number her father, Husky legend Lawyer Milloy, wore at Washington. But that season there were several players asking for the number.

Tarr suggested 36, a number the safety wore while playing in the NFL. It was a way for father and daughter to still share a number, while also allowing the younger Milloy to wear a number that had never been worn by a Husky softball player.

“There are cool things that can emerge from players who choose a number that hasn’t been worn before,” Tarr said.

After picking No. 7 last season, Taryn Atlee looked up the history on her number and her initial reaction was “holy moly.” She shares a number with All-Americans Sara Pickering and Jenn Salling.

“It’s cool, because I grew up watching Jenn Salling,” Atlee said. “She was my role model growing up. Being able to wear her number at the University of Washington and make it my number, too, is really cool.”

Tarr often talks to her players about leaving the program better than they found it and senior Taran Alvelo took that to heart when she put together her Number Project.

“You have to earn it,” she said. “You have to earn the right to wear a number in this program that was left behind by someone else, people with a legacy and a history. It’s such an honor to be able to wear No. 14 behind Jenna Clifton and Jenn Cline, all these amazing people who went through it before me. They went through the battles. They were here for the very first team to ever play at UW.”

Like Milloy, Kaija Gibson also selected a number that hadn’t been worn before at Washington. The junior said she has always worn No. 32, but there is meaning behind each of the digits on her jersey.

When she was younger, she “loved” watching Marnie Koziol, who wore No. 2.

“I wanted to be just like her,” Gibson said. “She played left field. I knew I could play left field and be a lefty batter just like she was.”

Gibson’s father bought her a Koziol jersey and she wore it to every softball camp she attended.

“It was too big, but I wore it anyway,” Gibson said.

Then there is the No. 3 on her jersey. That belonged to Eve Gaw. One of Gibson’s fondest memories of attending Washington’s softball camps was the encouragement she received from Gaw.

“She was always screaming my name,” Gibson said. “She made me feel special and became a long-term mentor and inspiration in my life.”

Being able to combine those numbers into the one on her jersey is important for Gibson.

“I’m hoping to leave behind both of those two legacies,” she said.

With all of Washington’s success over the years, the Huskies have been able to establish their history. The program has grown along with its coach. And the Number Project bridges the years between each team.